The EU Green Homes Directive cleared its final hurdle on Friday when it was approved by ministers at the Ecofin Council. Italy and Hungary voted against and the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden abstained.
The Directive sets new emissions-reduction targets for residential and non-residential buildings. It aims to progressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector and make it climate neutral by 2050. "We voted against the Green homes Directive," said EconomyMinister Giancarlo Giorgetti in Luxembourg. "The question is - who pays?" he said. That remark was a reference to the Superbonus scheme to incentivize energy-efficient building renovations, which has cost the State so far around 122 billion euros, seriously limiting the current government's room for manoeuvre. "We say that this is an experience that could teach us something", said Gior getti. The Directive was approved on a voice vote by ministers on Friday.